Eternal Flame

Disclaimer: I don\'t own the G Boys, I just borrow them from time to time and return them a whole lot happier ne? :) I do however own Shane, Paul, Colin, Mickey, Benny, Toby, Fayah and any other unfamiliar characters that crop up. I also own the plot if you can call it that.

Rating: NC 17

Warnings: Sap, angst, OC, Lemon, Lime, abuse, violence, language.

Pairings: 1x2x1, 3x4x3, 5xS, OC x OC and maybe some more... check each part to be sure ;)

Archive: http://gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com
http://sweetlysour.net
http://www.adult-fanfiction.org
http://www.theforsakenwk.com/

Status: Work in progress.

Beta: DBZVelena... *huggles*

Author: ShenLong

Authors notes: *sigh* Well here I am again caving into pressure. I know it has taken a while to get to this and for that I apologize but I could not come up with a plot I deemed worthy enough.... until now. This is yet another sequel... this time to United Hearts. I did promise I would write the wedding for you all and I intend to do that. For those that haven\'t read United or Lost Souls I recommend that you do, otherwise this sequel will not make much sense. All of your favorite characters are back and up to as much mischief as possible.
This is set fourteen months after the end of United and all the children are older now. The Gundam Pilots are all 20yrs, Shane and Fayah are 16, Paul is 15, Colin is 14, Mickey is 12, Benny is 10 1/2 and not forgetting that little rascal Toby who is 10.
Thank you to all those who supported me through the writing of United, I hope you enjoy this just as much.

\"Eternal Flame\"

April 2003 ShenLong

Chapter 35

Heero saw the man move and instinctively drew back against the side of the door; the bullet whizzed past and lodged in the outer corridor wall. \"I had hoped we could do this without any blood shed or the need for force, but it seems I was wrong,\" Heero sighed, more to himself than anyone else. \"For the last time, this is Preventer Agent Light. Drop your weapons and surrender. You are all under arrest.\"

\"Fuck off, you prick! You want me, then come and get me, you cocky bastard!\" Grant shifted behind one of the consoles.

The remaining people on the bridge that weren\'t already in a relatively safe place, soon found cover behind anything solid looking. The general consensus amongst them all was that the ship, the dolls and Grant were all pretty much screwed. They had no desire to add anything further to the charges they knew they were already facing and neither were they willing to become martyrs. Looked like Grant was going to be on his own.

Heero\'s sharp eyes took all this in as he scanned the room from his covered position at the doorway. He noted the positions of the other people in the room and did a rough count. Two guards, Grant, eight technicians and one other. The guards had their guns drawn, as did Grant. The other occupants appeared to be unarmed. He looked across the gap to where Bob crouched and tried to communicate with gestures what he intended to do.

Bob could still remember his basic training from his soldier days and whilst he didn\'t understand all that the agent was telling him, he managed to decipher the basics. Heero was going to attempt to move from his position outside the door and get behind the command console, Bob was to draw their fire and cover him.

Bob nodded, Heero counted down with his fingers; three... two... one...

Bob moved to the open doorway and began to fire, aiming in what he hoped was the general direction of where Grant and the guards were hiding. That part of the signaling he hadn\'t managed to interpret.

Heero crouched and then sprang as Bob began to fire. He lunged forward, tucked and rolled, then found his feet and whilst remaining crouched, scrambled across the floor and planted his back against the console bringing his gun up and checking the magazine clip.

\"Shit!\"

Heero turned his head in time to see Bob slump to the floor, a small pool of blood seeping out from underneath him. His eyes blazed with fury and he spun around in his hiding place to hear Grant\'s mocking words.

\"One bastard down and one to go.\"

~ * ~

Trowa wasn\'t sure how he managed to get Hercules back to the Zodiac; the Gundam struggled its way through the void, thrusters alternating between flat out and nothing at all. The controls shook and vibrated in his hands almost ripping themselves out of his grasp on several occasions. His muscles screamed in agony at him as he fought to maintain control over the mecha, he simply grit his teeth and bore the pain. His head ached so badly that his vision began to blur from time to time and his knee decided that now was a good time to begin to throb. Never had he been so glad to see the open cargo doors of the Zodiac. Using every ounce of strength he possessed and forcing his mind to focus, he wrestled the Gundam between the bay doors and into the hangar space. The heavy mecha bounced off one wall and crashed into the other. The thrusters finally died and the control panel gave up with a spectacular burst of sparks, singing Trowa\'s bang and burning his hands. \"Fuck it!\" he yelled to the Gundam as the large mecha slid down the wall and landed in a heap on the floor. Trowa was tossed around the cockpit unceremoniously his hand flying off the control and smashing against the side panel. A blinding pain shot up his arm and he realized he\'d broken his wrist.

Quatre sat and watched the approach and rather messy return of Hercules to the Zodiac. His heart was in his mouth as he observed the rather ungracious landing in the cargo bay. Immediately he was on the com link. \"03, 03, this is control. Status!\"

\"Fuck, Quatre, do you have to yell?\"

\"Sorry. Are you all right, Trowa?\"

\"Re-pressurizing of cargo bay almost complete,\" Howard interjected. \"As soon as you can enter, get your asses in there and get the pilot out,\" Howard said to the sweepers waiting in the area off to the side of the cargo bay.

\"Roger that, boss.\"

\"Call me Howard!\"

\"Yes, Howard.

\"You know, you remind me a lot of Wufei, Howard,\" Quatre said as he turned in his seat, waiting for Trowa\'s report.

\"How?\"

\"Wufei is always saying that to Duo.\"

\"Figures.\"

Quatre gave a light chuckle and turned back to his com link. A quick glance at the other screen told him that Duo and Wufei had finished off the last of the dolls and were making their way through the debris towards the Zodiac. \"02, 05, this is Control. What are your suits\' status?\"

\"Reaper is still the same as before, no further damage ta report.\"

\"My status is also the same as previously reported.\"

\"Has anyone heard how Heero\'s doin?\"

\"Not yet, 02. Will attempt to contact 01 next.\"

\"How is Barton?\"

\"Awaiting full status report from sweepers in the cargo bay, they\'re getting him out now.\"

\"Glad ta see he made it back okay.\" Duo\'s voice sounded tired.

\"02, both you and 05 are to return to Zodiac. I\'ll try and contact 01. Once you have powered down your Gundams head to cargo bay four, shuttle craft will be ready and waiting to take you to the enemy mother ship and the carrier.\"

\"Roger that, Control,\" said Wufei.

\"Be there soon, Q-man.\"

\"Do we have a status report on 03 yet?\" Quatre turned back to Howard.

\"Yes, we do. Parish and Hockley have got him out and are taking him through to the medical bay now.\"

Quatre paled. \"How...\"

\"He\'s going to be fine, Quatre. Let the medic take a look at him and then once this operation is over you can go see him. We need you here though for now,\" Howard said quietly, sensing how much the blonde wanted to go and see for himself the extent of Trowa\'s injuries.

\"I know,\" Quatre sighed. \"Don\'t worry, I\'m not about to desert my post. Now, let\'s see if I can\'t raise Heero.\"

~ * ~

Listening intently to the sounds around him, Heero was able to pinpoint Grant\'s exact location, only problem was he had to take out the two guards as well. Drawing his legs underneath him, Heero spun around, reached over the top of the command console and fired off several shots. He was rewarded with a howl of pain and returning gunfire. With a satisfied smirk he slipped a new clip into the gun and tried one last time to reason with Grant.

\"This is your last chance, Grant. Surrender now and no one gets hurt. If you don\'t then I cannot guarantee your survival. The choice is yours, either way you will be arrested.\"

\"Never, you mother fucking asshole. You want me then you\'re going to have to come and get me.\"

\"What about the other people in here, Grant? Do they want to resist arrest as well?\"

There was the sound of murmuring. \"We give up,\" came a voice from somewhere to Heero\'s left.

\"Bastards! You\'re nothing but a bunch of traitors!\" screamed Grant.

\"Let them go, Grant. This is between you and me, they aren\'t a part of this and they don\'t want to be here. Don\'t add more charges to the list.\"

\"NO!\" screamed Grant. \"Fucking mob of yellow bellied gutter rats! I\'ll shoot you all myself.\" Grant let his anger once more get the better of him and it proved to be his downfall. So blinded with rage, he moved and turned to aim his gun at the remaining guard, intending to take out his anger on that man first and then his remaining staff.

Heero took the opportunity, stood up, aimed and fired. The bullet hit its mark with one hundred percent accuracy, slamming into Grant\'s wrist and causing the gun he held to discharge as it dropped to the floor. In a flash Heero was across the room and barreled into Grant, using his shoulder to knock the larger man off balance. They sprawled to the floor together, Heero wrestling to grab the man\'s arms and pin them out of the way; Grant as equally determined not to be taken into custody. He couldn\'t fight back too well, his shattered wrist useless and his mind too blinded with his anger to think rationally. They scuffled around and during the wrestling so Grant\'s head connected with the solid leg of one of the consoles, knocking him out. It only took Heero a matter of seconds to put the \'cuffs on and get Grant immobilized. He stood up slowly but warily bringing his gun with him and looked around. The rest of the rooms occupants were also rising slowly from their hiding places, arms above their heads.

\"Don\'t shoot, we surrender,\" said one technician.

Heero looked at the guard who had dropped his gun to the floor and now also stood with his hands in the air. \"Kick the weapon over here.\"

The guard did as requested and Heero picked it up, emptied out the clip and tossed the gun to one side. He retrieved Grant\'s gun and did the same, then picked up the gun from the injured guard and tucked it into his flight suit. He looked around at the assembled group who had huddled together. \"Stay exactly where you are and no one will be hurt.\"

The group nodded and Heero quickly made his way to where Bob lay in a slowly spreading pool of blood fel felt for the pulse and was relived to feel it under his fingertips. It was weak but it was there. Keeping one eye on the \'prisoners\' he carefully rolled Bob over and checked the wound site. The bullet appeared to have entered in-between Bob\'s ribs; Heero couldn\'t see an exit point. He looked at the group again. \"Any of you have any medical knowledge?\"

\"I do.\"

\"Hn. Get over here and see what you can do. Is there a first aid kit in here?\"

\"Yes, it\'s over there.\"

\"Fetch it.\" Heero watched as the technician moved to the side wall and opened a panel; removing the first aid kit, he walked cautiously towards Heero.

\"I used to be a nurse,\" he said quietly.

\"Hn. Don\'t try anything, I have the gun ready.\"

\"I won\'t. I\'m kind of fond of living.\"

While the man worked on Bob so Heero reached for his com unit. Just as he was about to call up the Zodiac so Quatre\'s voice came over the link.

\"01, this is Control. Report, repeat, report.\"

\"Control, this is 01. Grant is in custody, ship now under Preventer jurisdiction. I will bac back up and medical crew standing by.\"

\"Report stats now, 01.\"

\"Two guards dead, some minor injuries to others, all other personnel under guard, Grant has a bullet wound and I found Bob Martins...\"

\"Heero?\"

\"Martins isn\'t in good shape. He needs medical attention and quickly. Aside from the injuries he\'s sustained at the hands of these bastards, he now has a bullet wound to the left rib cage. No exit site to be found. Unsure of where the bullet is lodged and unknown in regards to internal damage.\" Heero reeled of what he knew in a clipped tone.

\"What about you, Heero?\"

\"01 functional.\"

\"Roger that, 01. Pilot 02 is on the way to rendezvous with you now. Medical officer and other sweepers are with him to ensure complete lock down of ship.\"

\"Roger that Control. ETA?\"

\"Five minutean yan you confirm the damage to the cargo bay area?\"

\"Hai, give me a minute and I\'ll check.\"

\"Roger.\"

Heero shifted to the main console. He glanced over the electronics for a moment then began to type on the keyboard. Seconds later the information scrolled on the screen. \"Control, bay doors are non functional after Eagle One\'s entry, they are open enough though for the shuttle to get in but it will be close. I suggest Duo pilots in; he has the skills for this kind of maneuver. Life support systems are also non functional in bay so they will need to wear suits until we can rig up a safe passage from shuttle to depressurizing hatch.\"

\"Roger that, 01. Stand by.\" Quatre relayed the information to the shuttle then contacted Heero again. \"Shuttle notified of status. Once they dock they will come directly to the bridge and assist you in the clean up.\"

\"Control?\"

\"Go ahead, 01.\"

\"The other ship, the carrier. What is happening there?\"

\"The carrier ship has surrendered. Once the dolls were defeated and they knew of the status on the mother ship, they gave up the fight. Howard is deploying some of the sweepers along with 05 to take command of the carrier.\"

\"Roger that, Control. 01 out.\"

\"Control out\"

Heero closed his eyes for a second before turning to look over his shoulder at the medic working on Bob. \"How is he?\"

\"He needs surgery and a blood transfusion. I\'m not sure what damage has been done internally and the bullet is still lodged somewhere inside. I\'m not a doctor but he is going to need attention, and soon, if you want him to live.\"

Heero turned back to the monitor and hoped that the rest of the guys would show up soon.

~ * ~

Having received the message from Quatre, Duo carefully piloted the shuttle through the twisted cargo bay doors and into the large hangar space. He brought the craft to a stop beside Eagle One, which still managed to look rather ominous against the shuttle. The crew all secured their helmets and Duo popped the hatch. Three of the sweepers stayed in the bay area to rig up a temporary \'worm\' as Duo called it. It was a hollow tube which sealed over the shuttle entrance and the depressurizing door to allow safe passage between the two areas. They would need it to transfer the \'prisoners\' and wounded to the shuttle for transport back to the Zodiac.

As the group made their way through the corridors towards the bridge and Heero, they came across some of the guards that Heero had disarmed while on his own trek to the bridge. One of the sweepers stayed with the prisoners whilst the rest continued. It didn\'t take long to reach their destination and within minutes they had turned the corridor and were greeted with the sight of Bob Martins, unconscious and someone bending over him. Seconds later, Heero\'s head appeared around the door.

\"Nice work, buddy,\" Duo snickered as he saw the group all standing huddled in the corner.

The sweeper medic immediately took charge of Bob, feeding a drip into his arm and checking his vitals. The technician who had been a former nurse continued to assist and let the medic know what he had done so far to treat Bob.

The rest of the sweepers were dispatched to round up the prisoners and escort them back to the shuttle, ready to head back to the Zodiac. Two of the sweeper mechanics studied the ship\'s blue prints and began the task of bringing the engines back on line.

Heero gave his lover a small smile. \"Glad you could make it.\"

\"Woulda been here sooner but I kinda had a date with some pretty persistent dolls,\" Duo returned. \"Now where\'s this bastard?\"

Heero walked over to where Grant lay slumped on the floor, partially supported by a chair, his head rolling forward and chin resting on his chest. Heero shook him by the shoulder to wake him up. \"Grant. Get up, it\'s time to go.\"

Grant\'s senses slowly came back on line and he blinked and groaned as pain lanced along his arm. \"You fucking son of a bitch!\" he yelled as he tried to scramble to his feet and inflict more damage. Somehow he couldn\'t comprehend that he was in custody and that resistance was futile.

\"Now, now. It isn\'t nice ta call people names.\"

Grant recoiled slightly, more from the glint in those violet eyes than anything else. He shivered; the look spoke of death.

Duo grabbed him by the shoulder and dragged him to his feet. \"I believe my partner, Agent Light, asked yer ta get up.\"

Grant howled in pain as he was pulled upright, his damaged wrist yanking against the handcuffs. \"I\'ll see you rot in hell for that, you asshole.\"

\"Ahh... Temper, temper,\" goaded Duo. \"I have no fear of hell; you see...\" Duo pressed his face close to Grant\'s. \"...I am hell.\"

Grant\'s body shook as he stared into the violet eyes that glowed. He shuddered, he didn\'t doubt what the man said; he could clearly see the pits of hell raging inside those orbs.

\"Now get yer ass moving, we have a nice Commander who wants ta interrogate yer back on Earth and it ain\'t polite ta keep a lady waitin\'.\"

Grant found himself pushed roughly to the doorway and stumbled . Muttering under his breath, he kept moving, an armed sweeper behind him.

\"Take him down ta the cargo bay and wait there fer us. We\'ll check that everythin\' is secured up here and meet yer all back at the shuttle ta return ta Zodiac.\"

The sweeper nodded and took charge of Grant, Heero\'s attention turned back to Martins and the two who were working on him. \"Can he be moved yet?\"

\"I\'ve nearly stabilized him so we can move him in about a minute or so. The sooner I can get him back to the Zodiac, the sooner I can operate on him and get that bullet out.\"

\"Good. I\'ll contact Control and inform them of our status.\" Heero turned back to his lover. \"Duo, can you assist them with the rest of the prisoners while I report in to Quatre?\"

\"Sure thing.\" Duo checked around to make sure no one was watching then planted a soft kiss to Heero\'s lips. \"I still have a score ta settle with yer, Yuy. Once the clean up is done I expect yer in my bunk room.\"

\"Only if you promise to see the medic first.\" Heero raised a hand to brush Duo\'s blood encrusted bangs away from his face. \"What happened?\"

\"It\'s nothin\'. Just banged my head a bit in Reaper. You can\'t talk either, soldier boy,\" Duo chastised as he took in the blood marring Heero\'s upper arm where a bullet had creased him earlier. \"If I gotta make a trip ta the medic then yer are too.\"

Heero smiled; a warm rare smile that he kept only for Duo. He grabbed the end of his partner\'s braid and wound it around his wrist. \"And if I\'m confined to bed with my injuries will you nurse me back to health?\" he whispered.

\"Yer can bet on it.\"

~ * ~

Once Quatre knew that the enemy ship was under Preventer control he handed over the com to Howard. \"I\'m going down to the medical section to check on Trowa,\" he said as Howard took up residence in Quatre\'s vacated seat.

\"Okay. I\'ll keep you informed of the progress.\"

\"Thanks, Howard. If you need me, just call me in the medic bay and I\'ll come right back.\"

\"Will do; now go see how that boyfriend of yours is.\" Howard chuckled as Quatre dashed out of the control room and headed for the medical bay and his lover. \"Ahh..... Young love,\" he mumbled with a smile. Then he turned his attention back to the unit and the task at hand. \"01, 02, this is Control...\"

~ * ~

Wufei piloted the shuttle to the open cargo doors of the carrier ship. Once inside, both he and the sweepers moved cautiously through the ship, arresting and taking into custody, the remaining rebels. Once all had been rounded up, Wufei checked the status of the carrier, pleased to note that everything was still completely functional. The only apparent damage to the ship was the loss of the weapons, and that was because they had taken them out earlier in the battle. Everything else was fine and there was plenty of fuel still on board. Wufei contacted Control with the status.

\"Control, this is 05. Do you copy?\"

\"05, this is Control, go ahead.\"

\"Carrier ship is completely secure; all non friendlies have been arrested and are awaiting transportation back to Zodiac.\"

\"Any problems, 05?\"

\"No, none. Ship is fully functional, only damage is to weapon systems, everything else is fine.\"

\"Good. Leave two sweepers on board and return with the prisoners to Zodiac as soon as you\'re ready.\"

\"Roger that Control. 05 out\"

\"Control out.\"

Wufei turned to the sweepers. \"Who would like to stay here on the ship and maintain security until we are ready to leave?\"

Two sweepers stepped forwards.

\"Thank you. I will return to the Zodiac with the rest of the group. Control will contact you with further instructions when necessary.\" Wufei turned to the remaining men. \"Let\'s get these people back to the Zodiac and secured. The sooner we wrap this up, the sooner we can go home.\"

The group moved out and back to the small shuttle. The prisoners were secured and Wufei piloted the craft back to the Zodiac.

~ * ~

The medic deemed Bob stable enough to move and between himself and the other ex-nurse, they rigged up a stretcher out of a table top, having broken the legs off. Heero and Duo followed them back to the shuttle, leaving a few sweepers behind to clean up as well as the two currently working to restore the engine power.

They arrived back at the cargo bay to find the \'worm\' had been set up successfully and the prisoners all waiting to board the shuttle. Heero followed the medic\'s on board first to make sure that Bob was safely positioned for the trip back to the Zodiac. Once that was done, Duo supervised the rest of the group. It was a little cramped on the shuttle but the trip would only be a short one so Duo didn\'t worry too much. He left the sweepers guarding the group and went to the cockpit to prepare to fly the shuttle back to the Zodiac.

\"I\'ll come back for Eagle One later,\" Heero said when he saw Duo\'s questioning look as to his position in the pilot\'s seat.

\"Control, this is 01.\"

\"01, this is Control. Go ahead.\"

\"All prisoners are on board and shuttle is preparing to leave. Please have medical staff standing by as we have an urgent case on board. Five sweepers left behind to finish securing the ship, two others working on the engines to reinstate power.\"

\"Roger that, 01. 05 has just returned from carrier ship so enter through cargo bay doors three. I\'ll have medical staff ready and a section of the ship has been converted to contain the prisoners until we return to Earth.\"

\"Howie?\"

\"Yeah, kid?\"

\"How\'s Tro?\"

\"Haven\'t heard yet. Quatre is with him now but the report I got when he made it back is all good, nothing life threatening,\" replied Howie.

\"Great. See ya soon, Howie.\"

\"Control out.\"

The com link was cut and Duo grinned at his partner. \"Let\'s get goin\', Heero. We got an appointment with the medic ourselves and then a date in my cabin. I have a few things ta discuss with yer.\"

Heero nodded and began to guide the shuttle out of the twisted bay doors. The date with Duo wasn\'t going to be a pleasant one, of that he could be certain. His lover wanted answers from him. Heero hoped the medic would take a while before getting to them, the longer he could put off the *discussion*, the better.

~ * ~

tbc....